📷 Photo by Anna Khromova on UnsplashÖsterlen: Skåne’s quiet corner
A stone ship on a cliff, the best-preserved medieval castle in Scandinavia and apple orchards by the sea at the south-eastern tip of Sweden.
- Distance
- 142 km (89 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 58 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Sweden
- Updated
- July 10, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 142 km (89 mi) with 7 stops, from Malmö to Kivik. About 1 h 58 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Sweden · More road trips from Copenhagen
Route description
From Malmö drive east to Ystad, a town of half-timbered houses and a medieval monastery, familiar to many as the home of the Wallander crime novels. Route 9 then follows the coast east to Kåseberga, a tiny fishing harbour below Ale’s Stones.
Turn inland for Glimmingehus, a solid stone castle in open fields, then continue to Simrishamn, the main town of Österlen, with its harbour and pastel cottages. The landscape is rolling farmland dotted with art studios.
North of Simrishamn, Stenshuvud National Park offers short trails and fine beaches, and Kivik is known for its apple orchards, a big summer market and the King’s Grave, a Bronze Age burial cairn just outside the village.
The whole route is under 150 km, so two days are plenty; add more if you want to cycle or swim. Late summer and autumn, when the apples are harvested, are good times to visit.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Malmö
Sweden - 269 km
Ystad
Sweden - 320 km
Ale’s Stones
HistoryKåseberga, SwedenA 67 m ship setting of 59 boulders on a grassy cliff above the Baltic, Sweden’s best-known megalithic site. Walk up from the fishing harbour at Kåseberga.
- 422 km
Glimmingehus
HistoryHammenhög, SwedenA moated stone castle begun in 1499, the best-preserved medieval castle in Scandinavia, with murder holes and a medieval-style kitchen garden.
- 512 km
Simrishamn
Sweden - 616 km
Stenshuvud National Park
NatureKivik, SwedenA 97 m headland of beech forest rising over sandy beaches. Short trails climb to the top for a view down the Österlen coast.
- 75 km
Kivik
Sweden
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Malmö → Ystad · 69 km · 0 h 57 minOvernight nearby, for example: Ystad Camping (3 km); Solans Mack (19 km).
- Day 2: Ystad → Kivik · 74 km · 1 h 01 minOn the way: Ale’s Stones, Glimmingehus, Simrishamn, Stenshuvud National Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Kiviks Familjecamping (1 km); Torna ställplats (10 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Sweden: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Congestion charges in Stockholm and Gothenburg; Øresund Bridge toll. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner?
2-day road trip of about 142 km (89 mi) with 7 stops, from Malmö to Kivik. About 1 h 58 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 58 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner start and end?
It starts in Malmö and ends in Kivik.
Which countries does Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner pass through?
Sweden.
Where can you camp along Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner?
OpenStreetMap lists 39 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Lomma Camping, Källby Friluftsbad & Camping and Barsebäckstrands Camping.
When is the best time for Österlen: Skåne’s quiet corner?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
